Automatic fire-extinguisher.



B. F. MAYO.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 25. I913.

1 2203228, Patented Oct. 31,1916.

III I WWI/55553 /A/I/5/v 7-0/3 Ma a Q W2 the opposite side of the head.

UNITED srwrnsrnrnnr oumcn.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES A. BROGAN, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE- EXTINGUISHER.

i,2o3,22s.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 31, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. MAYO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characteis on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to that class of devices commonly known as automatic sprinklers or sprinkler heads, which are designed for actuation under the influence of an excessive or predetermined degree of heat to effect the automatic discharge of a supply of fluid for the purpose of extinguishing a fire. One type of such devices, and that to which my invention particularly relates, comprises as its essential features afluid outlet member or nozzle provided with a valve and with means to hold the valve normally closed to retain the fluid, such means usually including a lever or levers, with a heat responsive member, such as a fusible connection, for retaining the latter in position. It has been found that the fusible member of such devices, as heretofore constructed, may fail from various accidental causes to respond promptly to the degree of heat at which it was intended to operate.

Such failure may result from faults in the manufacture of the member, or the latter may have become corroded, -or may have been wholly or partially coated with paint during the painting of the building in which such a system is installed, or may be other Wise screened from the action of heat or rendered unresponsive thereto in the manner intended. In the case, moreover, of such sprinkler heads as have a fusible member held at some distance from the nozzle on one side, the device may fail to respond as promptly as it should to a fire located on 'An important object of this invention is to avoid, in large measure, the uncertainty of operation referred to and with this end in view I have provided an improved device of the type specified which includes novel valve retaining means provided preferably with a plurality of members which are 'fusible or otherwise affected by the action of valve. Such members will be positioned,

preferably, at some distance from the nozzle on different sides, so as to make the device as a whole equally responsive to heat on different sides of the head. It will be seen that with such a construction the chances of prompt and efficient operation of the device are multiplied in proportion to the number of heat responsive members in the system, slnce if one should fail to respond for any reason, the probabilities are that another would be found effective.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 1s a perspective view of a sprinkler head embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the sprinkler head in connection with a source of fluid supply, showing in detail the features of its construction.

The nozzle 2 is threaded at 4 for attachment to a source of fluid supply, represented by the pipe or coupling 5, and is provided with a valve 6 seated upon the outlet end of the nozzle, and with a cap or packing member 8 interposed between the valve and its seat. A frame or yoke 10 extends above the nozzle, and hasthreaded therethrough in a position opposite the nozzle outlet a screw =12, the purpose of which will be subsequently explained; Between the head of the screw 12 and the frame proper is located the usual fluid deflecting and dispersing member 14, the specific construction of which forms no part of my present invention.

' For holding the valve 6 normally closed I have provided a system of levers arranged in series to bear at one point upon the valve and-at another point upon an abutment over the valve, preferably the screw 12 as shown, and so arranged that in order to maintain the lever system in position it is necessary to provide retaining means connected to the system at a plurality of points. The levers 16 and 18, it will be noted, engage respectively at their inner ends the end of the screw 12 and the top of the valve 6, and

project outwardly at one side of the head, while the'levers and 22 project in the opposite direction and are shaped at their inner ends to provide fulcrums for the levers 16 and 18 respectively. The levers 20 and 22, also, are in contact near their inner ends and arranged as a species of toggle device between the levers 16 and 18. The several levers are thus fulcrumed one upon another in unstable relation, so that pressure in the line of the axis of the outlet tends to swing them about their fulcrum points, the arrangement presenting a pair of opposed arms extending outwardly in spaced relation on one side of the device and another pair on the opposite side of the device. Obviously, however, this particular preferred arrangement of the system may be variously modified the imp'ortant requisite being an arrangement whereby the several hold ng mcmberslare cooperative to retain the valve in closed position. Suitable grooves or depressions in the levers, it will be noted, assist to retain them in place. For holding the levers in position to bring pressure to bear upon the valve I have provided a plurality of members which in the illustrated embodiment connect the outer ends of the levers in pairs. These members may be of various types, and in the construction shown comprise plates 24, 25 and 26, 27 formed with serrations on their contiguous faces and held together by a suitable alloy which,will fuse at the desired temperature and permit the plates to separate. The members 24 and 25 thus constitute a fusible link that connects the ends of the levers 20 and 22, and the members 26 and 27 are similarly arranged with reference to the levers, 16 and 18, ex cept that one of the plates, as 27, in this case is preferably made rigid or formed integral with one of the levers, as 16, in orderr to impart stability to the system, the other plate 26 being loosely connected with the lever 18 in the same way that the plates 24 and 25 are connected with their respective levers. Each pair of levers and the connecting link are arranged, when in proper position, in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the sides of the frame 10, and the fusible connections, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, are positioned at a greater distance from the axis of the fluid outlet than the sides of the coupling 5 so as to be readily affected by a hot gaseous current or flame passing the sides of the supply pipe from beneath. This is an important factor in insuring the prompt operation of the device under different conditions. Another important and novel feature which contributes materially to the same end is the arrangement of fusible links connected rigidly with the system of levers at one point and loosely at other points. Accidental collapse of the system of levers is thus prevented, while upon the fusing of any one of the links the several levers are free to fall and release the valve.

In the arrangement described it will be seen that the screw 12 constitutes a tensioning member, and when properly adjusted after the parts are assembled acts through the interposed levers tb press the valve forcibly upon its seat, at the same time putting the lever system itself under tension against the restraining effect of the members 24, 25 and 26, 27 as will be obvious. When either of these members, therefore, is caused to yield by the action of heat, it releases the lever 'or levers immediately connected thereto, and this serves to release the tension of the entire system of levers, and the latter fall away from the head, leaving the valve free to open with the pressure of the fluid underneath.

Upon one of the levers, as 20, are formed projections 28 which are in position to con tact with the frame 10 in case the lever system should be swung accidentally too far about its axis, and thereby avoid the liability of corrosion and consequent failure of .the device to operate in case the levers themselves or the links should come into contact with the frame.

It should be understood that my invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular number, character or arrangement of holding members or levers disclosed, s nce variations in these respects will be obvious. Nor, in the broader aspects of the invention, are the particular character, number and arrangement of the heat responsive elements essential features. While these elements are shown connecting the levers in pairs,-it will be clear that each lever of the system may, if desired, be connected with a separate fusible member. Other variations also within the spirit and scope of the claims will occur to those skilled in the art to'which the invention relates.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the Unitedv States is the follow- 1ng:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of an abutment over the valve, a plurality of valve retaining members projecting in different directions from the axis of the outlet, said members being arranged with their inner end portions in a series extending from the valve to said abutment,.and independently fusible means connected respectively with the outer end portions of the different retaining members to hold them in position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of a pair of levers projecting outward respectively at different sides of the device and having their inner end portions in position to bring pres-=- sure to bear upon the valve, one of said levers being fulcrumed upon the other, means providing a fulcrum for said other lever, and a separate fusible member connected with the outer end portion of each of said levers to hold the lever in position, either of said members being fusible independently of the other to cause the release of the valve.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the nozzle, of an abutment over the valve, a plurality of levers fulcrumed one upon another, one acting upon the valve and another bearing against the abutment, and cooperating to hold the valve normally closed, and a plurality of independently fusible members arranged respectively to hold different levers against separation, said members being so connected with the levers as to permit all the levers to fall upon the fusing of one of the members.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the nozzle, of an abutment over the valve, a plurality of levers projecting at different sides from the axis of the nozzle and arranged in a series extending between the valve and said abutment, and heat responsive means arranged to retain said levers normally in position, said means comprising a plurality of separate fusible members so connected with the levers as to permit the several levers to fall upon the fusing of one of said members.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the nozzle, of an abutment over the valve, a system of levers arranged to hold the valve normally closed, said levers projecting outwardly in pairs and having their inner end portions extending in a series between the valve and said abutment, and a fusible connection between the levers of each pair for holding the levers in position.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve therefor, of a system of levers arranged in pairs to hold the valve normally closed, and a fusible link arranged to connect the members of each pair at points Where said members are in spaced relation to hold them in position, one of said links forming a rigid connection with one of the levers.

7 In a device of. the class described, the combination with a frame provided with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the outlet, of an abutment over the valve a system of levers for holding the valve normally closed, said system comprising a plurality of levers projecting in different directions from the vicinity of the outlet and arranged to engage one another near their inner ends in a series extending between the valve and said abutment, and a plurality of independently fusible members connected respectively to the outer ends of the different levers to retain them in position.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame provided with a fluid outlet nozzle, a valve for the outlet and an abutment over the valve, of a unitary system of levers arranged to hold the valve normally closed, said system comprising two pairs of levers, the members of one pair engaging respectively the valve and said abutment, and the second pair constituting a toggle device tending normally to separate the members of the first pair, and a fusible connection between the members of each pair to hold them in position.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame provided with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the outlet, of aunitary system of levers arranged to hold the valve normally closed, said system comprising two pairs of levers, the members of one pair engaging respectively the valve and a relatively fixed portion of the device, and the members of the second pair engaging respectively the members of the first pair and arranged between them so as to tend normally to separate said members, and a fusible connection between the members of each pair to hold them in position.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of a unitary system of levers arranged to hold the valve normally closed, said system comprising two pairs of levers, the members of one pair engaging respectively the valve and a relatively fixed portion of the device, and the members of the other pair engaging respectively the members of the first pair and arranged between them to hold said members in spaced relation, and heat responsive means for retaining the different levers of the system in position.

11. In'a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve therefor, of a pair of retaining members cooperating to hold the valve normally closed, said members having outwardly pro jecting arms arranged in spaced relation, and a fusible link connecting said arms to retain them in position, said link extending transversely between the arms and forming a rigid'connection with one of said arms and a non-rigid connection with the other arm.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fiuid'and a valve for the outlet, of a pair of retaining members for the valve comprising arms that pro]ect outwardly on the device with their outer ends in spaced relation, one of said arms being formed to provide an extension projectlng toward the in position.

other armin the space between the arms, and a member united by fusible material with said extension and connected loosely with said other arm.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of a pair of levers arranged to bring pressure to bear respectively upon the Valve and upon a relatively fixed portion of the device, a second pair of levers arranged between the members of said first pair to hold said members in spaced relation, and heat responsive means connecting the members of said respective pairs of levers to retain them 14. In a device of the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of a pair of levers arranged to bear respectively upon the valve and upon a relatively fixed portion of the device, a second pair of levers arranged as a toggle .between the members of said first pair to hold said members in spaced relation, and heat responsive means connecting the members of said respective pairs of levers to retain them in position.

15. In a device of. the class described, the combination with means providing an outlet for fluid and a valve for the outlet, of a pair of levers projecting outward respectively in diflerent directions from the axis of the outlet, one of said levers being arranged to bear upon the, valve and the other lever being located in position-to provide a fulcrum for said first lever, means providing a fulcrum for said other lever, and a separate fusible connection for retaining each of said levers in position.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame provided with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the outlet, of a unitary system of levers arranged to hold the valve normally closed, a screw on the frame for variably subjecting said system of levers to holding tension, said system comprising two pairs of levers, the members of one pair engaging respectively the valve and the screw, and the members of the other pair engaging respectively the members of the first pair and arranged between them to hold said members in spaced relation, and a fusible connection between the members of each pair to retain them in POSI- tion.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for'the nozzle, of an abutment over the valve, a plurality of levers arranged in a series between the valve and said abutment to hold the valve normally closed and presenting pairs of opposed arms in spaced relation on opposite sides of the device, and a separate fusible connection between the arms of each pair for retaining the levers in position.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluid outlet nozzle and a valve for the nozzle, of an abutment over the valve, a plurality of levers fulorumed one upon another in unstable relation and arranged in a series between the valve and said abutment to hold the valve normally closed, said levers presenting pairs of opposed arms in spaced relation on opposite sides of the device, and a separate fusible connection between the arms of each pair for retaining the levers in position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. MAYO. 

